Milk production is up 1.7 percent from April 2010, according to a report by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Production of milk last month in the 23 major states totaled 15.5 billion pounds with production per cow totaling 1,834 pounds. The number of milk cows on farms also increased to 8.43 million heads, which is 97,000 more than in April 2010. Review the report.

Improper use of a growth accelerator is to blame for acres of exploding watermelons in eastern China. Farmers used forchlorfenuron during overly wet weather and administered it too late in the season, causing the watermelons to burst. Producers used the chemical in an attempt to make extra money. Read more (Associated Press).

Study Could Allow Consumers to Trace Livestock from Farm to Plate
Researchers at Michigan State University have launched a pilot program that will allow consumers to trace where their hamburgers and steaks originated. Using Michigan’s livestock tracing program — which requires cattle to have radio frequency identification ear tags in order to be traced in case of disease outbreak — researchers hope to allow shoppers to use their smartphones to do a scan to find out the animal and farm where the beef originated. Read more (mlive.com).

Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture began assessing damage to Missouri farmland affected by the recent flooding. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon sent a letter to USDA requesting the assessment, which is the first step to counties in the state being declared a primary natural disaster area. Counties have until May 20 to report damages and losses to the governor. Read more (Missouri Ruralist).

A new Missouri law will limit nuisance lawsuits against livestock and crop producers. Gov. Jay Nixon signed the measure, which restricts how much money people could win, also stops neighbors from filing repeated nuisance claims regarding similar conditions against the same farm. The law comes after Premium Standard Farms — a major employer in Missouri — said it may be forced to leave the state if it continued to be targeted by nuisance lawsuits. Lawsuits against the farm have resulted in multimillion dollar awards. Read more (Associated Press).

USDA has developed new software to help farmers determine the correct time to apply pesticides, fertilizers and water. Phenology Modular Modeling System software allows users to answer questions such as “What is your planting date?” and “How wet was your soil at planting time?” The program uses the information to simulate crop growth stages for the entire growing season, giving farmers an idea of when to feed or spray pesticides. The software, which is continually being expanded, allows farmers to input information on several crops, including corn, wheat and barley. Learn more or download the software.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a statement yesterday in response to a report showing U.S. farm exports reaching an all-time high of $75 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2011.

"Today's trade data demonstrate that, once again, America's farmers and ranchers are helping lead the way to recovery from the worst economic recession in decades. The gains in U.S. agricultural exports are particularly encouraging news for those who live in rural America or earn a living in farming, ranching and agriculture-related industries, because exports are creating jobs here at home. Farm exports alone will support more than one million jobs in America this year. Strong U.S. farm exports will be a key contributor to building an economy that continues to grow, innovate and out-compete the rest of the world.

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